Jewish translation of the old testament or Christian translation?

[DanielB]

Please only answer if you have decent knowledge on the differences between the them. Would you recommend I get a jewish bible or a christian translation? I ask because I have heard and read that they can be pretty different. I have read that Jewish translators tend to be biased when translating things that would point to Jesus being the Messiah and that Christian translators tend to be biased and make things point to Jesus being the Messiah. Do you think this tends to be the case? I am interested in the old testament out of historical curiosity and because I believe there is much to be learned from it regardless of whether we follow its laws or not. Please resist the topic of what laws of the old testament or new testament we should obey in THIS post and try to focus on am asking in this one.(I am going to ask about the laws in a different post when I get home in a few days unless  someone beats me to it)

[WhiteWings]

I think no translation is 100% correct; no matter if it's Jewish or Christian. Just like Christian translations vary so Jewish translations vary. For casual reading many translations are fine. When really zooming in on a passage or even a single verse for me checking various translations works best.

Jewish and Christian commentaries vary quite a bit too. Maybe not even because the writer of those commentaries have an agenda but because their mindset is different. Jewish commentary often focusses a bit more on things seen from laws and customs.

So basically my answer is read both Jewish and Christian translations/commentary. But if I would be forced to pick just one, then it would be Jewish without a doubt.

Note: Messanic translations are the middle ground. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messianic_Bible_translations

[lomarah]

This is a GREAT website: http://eliyah.com/lexicon.html

I use it a lot for studying the bible. Just type whichever book you want to read into the top search box and out it comes with all the strongs numbers beside each word. If you want to know exactly what a certain word means just click the strongs number beside it. It gives you the definition and then a list of everywhere else in the bible that same word is used. This way I basically translate on my own. :)

[WhiteWings]

But then you just have  Christian (denominational) view on what a word means.
Plus, I doubt many, will check each and every word in each and every verse as they read.

[mplsfitter539]

http://coyhwh.com/

Everyone has their own preference but I personally love this translation.

[WhiteWings]

It's stuff like this I like:

The 150th psalm ends with praising Yahweh  in song and dance. The fact that the different musical instruments are mentioned in verse 4 shows that this is referring to congregational and not just private worship.

[lomarah]

If you want a completely "unbiased" view you HAVE to look up the words for yourself.

[WhiteWings]

True, but lexicons are often biased too.

[anna274]

http://coyhwh.com/

Everyone has their own preference but I personally love this translation.

Thanks Duwayne...  God has graciously given me the time (I'm retired!), the energy (I'm very healthy in all ways including physically and spiritually), and the freedom (He has called me out of all groups and into the glorious light of the Son of His love) to search the Scriptures and I appreciate receiving websites wherein I can gain different perspectives.  I quickly looked at this one from you and will take time later in the week to really look at it. 

I do keep in mind that ALL humans have a bias or two...but I trust the Holy Spirit to show me what I particularly need to know for any given day. 

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: I think it's helpful to look at a variety of translations. My  :2c: Blessings....

[lomarah]

True, but lexicons are often biased too.

Which is why the list of every single verse where the particular word is used is helpful. Which is why I love that site so much.

[WhiteWings]

I'm not saying it's bad. In fact, I use a similar method myself. It doesn't remove all bias. For that you need more lexicons and to stay on topic a Jewish lexicon too.

Instead of Strong's I would advise Thayer/BDB available on the same site. Strong's is outdated and the defenitions quite often are not complete.


Just my  :2c:

[Seth]

True, but lexicons are often biased too.

Which is why the list of every single verse where the particular word is used is helpful. Which is why I love that site so much.

I agree. I never rely simply on a word definition. I always look to see how it was used in context across the rest of scripture. That doesn't always clear it up, but it can definitely add a useful perspective.

[DanielB]

Thanks everybody! I know translations are not 100% accurate. I want to read the old and new testaments first before I get into go into a more in depth study(but I will probably stop to study something and maybe ask on this forum if I do not understand certain things). I think I may go for a jewish version for the old testament. Are there any popular jewish translations I should avoid? I have read in some places "the JPSTanakh is best" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPS_Tanakh  or "artscroll versions are best". It sounds very familiar like "KJV is the best translation" lol.

[anna274]

http://coyhwh.com/

Everyone has their own preference but I personally love this translation.

Thanks Duwayne...  God has graciously given me the time (I'm retired!), the energy (I'm very healthy in all ways including physically and spiritually), and the freedom (He has called me out of all groups and into the glorious light of the Son of His love) to search the Scriptures and I appreciate receiving websites wherein I can gain different perspectives.  I quickly looked at this one from you and will take time later in the week to really look at it. 

I do keep in mind that ALL humans have a bias or two...but I trust the Holy Spirit to show me what I particularly need to know for any given day.

Again thanks Duwayne...  I've decided to order the Hebraic Roots Bible... they suggest a donation of $35 which includes shipping charges etc.  I smiled as I saw that amount... I can purchase about 5 large CaffeMochas for $35...  I can give up physical drinks anytime in exchange for spiritual drinks. May His peace, His joy, His life, His mercy, His grace, His light shine evermore brightly in all our minds and hearts.

[joeteekay]

Hello all,

I find all versions have merit.  Some to confirm scriptural truths, such as "the salvation of all" and universal reconciliation and other versions that help us identify translation errors and thereby strengthen our spiritual understanding in harmony with God's mind.  Its is usually best to get back to the original scriptures, whether Hebrew or Greek (or Aramaic).

I seldom use the Hebraic Roots Bible because of errors such as the one that translates the pivotal teaching found in Mat 25:46.

..(Hebraic Roots Bible)  Mat. 25:46   And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.

(Concordant Literal Version)  Mat 25:46  And these shall be coming away into chastening eonian, yet the just into life eonian."

We all seems to have our "favourites" and we do strive to be of one mind.

By the way I downloaded the  Hebraic Roots Bible from the internet and have it on my computer in pdf format for reference.

:2c: :2c:

[mplsfitter539]

http://coyhwh.com/

Everyone has their own preference but I personally love this translation.

Thanks Duwayne...  God has graciously given me the time (I'm retired!), the energy (I'm very healthy in all ways including physically and spiritually), and the freedom (He has called me out of all groups and into the glorious light of the Son of His love) to search the Scriptures and I appreciate receiving websites wherein I can gain different perspectives.  I quickly looked at this one from you and will take time later in the week to really look at it. 

I do keep in mind that ALL humans have a bias or two...but I trust the Holy Spirit to show me what I particularly need to know for any given day.

Again thanks Duwayne...  I've decided to order the Hebraic Roots Bible... they suggest a donation of $35 which includes shipping charges etc.  I smiled as I saw that amount... I can purchase about 5 large CaffeMochas for $35...  I can give up physical drinks anytime in exchange for spiritual drinks. May His peace, His joy, His life, His mercy, His grace, His light shine evermore brightly in all our minds and hearts.

Anna if you have a kindle there is a free download for that type of format

[WhiteWings]

Or several other formats. Anna is from the 'everything printed' generation. I think she's isn't gonna change  :laugh:

[anna274]

Or several other formats. Anna is from the 'everything printed' generation. I think she's isn't gonna change  :laugh:

young man are you laughing at me????? You're absolutely (well as absolute as any finite being can be) right... I ain't gonna change... and when God shuts down man's greatest invention (the internet=tower of Babel), I'll have a huge pile of printed matter  (and I print only that which I believe will help me to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Savior of all mankind) Oh my, I got a bit serious here... nonetheless, this lol (little old lady) will have the last and hugest laugh LOL

WW...thanks, I needed a good laugh (at myself!!!)